Bridgnorth garden village, Oswestry park and ride and 8,000 Shrewsbury homes: Shropshire Local Plan revealed

A new 'garden village' could be developed on the edge of Bridgnorth to help meet the county's growing demand for housing.

Shropshire Council says there is sufficient evidence of 'exceptional circumstances' to justify building a mixed-use development to the east of the town.

The local authority is currently reviewing its housing blueprint called the Local Plan 2016-2036, and has selected 70 preferred sites to be developed.

A new community could also be built near Oswestry - including 200 homes, a park and ride, and retail facilities - while the council says more than 8,000 homes need to be built in Shrewsbury over the next two decades.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve the draft consultation document at a meeting at Shirehall on Wednesday.

• Scroll through for detail on the plans for your area.

850 homes for Bridgnorth garden village

The land at Stanmore, to the east of Bridgnorth, has been chosen as a preferred site and could accommodate about 850 homes, according to the plan.

Elliot Lynch, Shropshire Councillor for Bridgnorth West and Tasley, said: "I recognise that Bridgnorth is lacking in quantity and in certain types of housing that are in demand with our young people.

"I also recognise that Bridgnorth is home to a number of world class manufacturers that might look at expanding their enterprises in the future or else risk losing out in their markets.

"With this in mind, I agree in principle that space for expansion would be welcome so as long as the opportunity is used to provide housing and skilled work for our young people."

Entry level housing

The review says entry level housing and homes for workers are a priority going forward.

There are also suggestions of establishing a park and ride site to serve the town centre.

Councillor Lynch added: "I would also expect to see how an uplift in local services would be provided and managed in the plans.

"I have been making the case for the need of a dedicated park and ride since being elected and this proposal is very welcome as a means of reducing traffic on our congested streets."

Bridgnorth has been earmarked for an additional 16 hectares of employment land which would fall within the proposed garden settlement and provide expansion space for businesses on Stanmore Industrial Estate, starter units for local firms and opportunities for inward investment.

Lee Jakeman, Bridgnorth Town Council clerk, said members would carefully consider the plans.

He added: "We have noted the recent publication of the document and we're keen to understand the rationale behind the proposals set out by Shropshire Council.

"While we're interested in a development, I appreciate it will have some serious consequences for the dynamics of town. I also understand that people may be fond of of the site as an historical RAF base so any development should be done with care and consideration."

8,000 homes for Shrewsbury

More than 8,000 homes need to be built in Shrewsbury over the next two decades to meet the county's housing need.

Shropshire Council says the county town has a 'particularly important' role to play in delivering the housing supply and supporting economic growth.

It says nearly a third of all housing over the next 20 years will be built in Shrewsbury.

Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, said: "It is noticeable that Shrewsbury is taking a good proportion of Shropshire's housing.

"But when you look at the figures of how many people live in Shrewsbury, that is about right, as it is about a third of Shropshire's population.

"As with everything, not everyone is going to be happy but this document will go out to consultation and we welcome comments from the public and town and parish councils.

"This plan meets the expectation of what Shropshire needs and what the government expects of us."

4,000 homes already planned

More than 4,000 homes are already in the pipeline, meaning Shropshire Council needs to find a further 3,646 need to be found.

Officers have identified 100 acres of land between Mytton Oak Road and Hanwood Road as the main preferred site.

The review says it is a "significant development opportunity" for the town and could take about 1,200 homes.

The total site area of land proposed is about 100 acres and would includes a mix of uses including residential development, commercial land, leisure and retail uses providing it would not impact on the town centre.

Councillor Nutting said the site is ideal development land as it is already earmarked for a new school.

He added: "The area is already being built on at the moment and Shropshire Council has secured a seven hectare site in the middle of the land which is proposed for a new school.

"It is now in the possession of Shropshire Council and has to be developed for sports of educational purposes.

"We have started to put together ideas of how to develop a new school for the area."

Earmarked

Land off Holyhead Road, Shrewsbury, has been earmarked for up to 300 homes and land south of Meole Brace retail park has been selected as a preferred site for 150 homes.

The plan also sets out how Shrewsbury needs to accommodate 91 hectares of employment land – 40 hectares of which have already been earmarked.

If approved the consultation will run for nine weeks ending at the start of 2019, before a second consultation takes place later next year. It will then need to be approved by the planning inspectorate.

The plan for North Shropshire

A new community including 200 homes, a park and ride, and retail facilities could be built around the former Park Hall army camp near Oswestry to meet housing targets.

The original Local Plan, which was put together in 2016 and will run until 2036, highlighted the need for 1,800 homes to be built in Oswestry.

So far just 47 have been built, however plans are in place and land has been earmarked for more than 1,500 new homes.

A further 229 homes need to be planned for, and due to restrictions around building in other areas of the town, Shropshire Council is proposing to build a community in the Park Hall area.

'Just plans'

Deputy leader Steve Charmley said: “Park Hall was highlighted as an area by the Oswestry Civic Society as part of Oswestry 2050.

“There are restrictions around Oswestry now with land at Brogyntyn Hall and the hillfort for example, so the next way is to move towards Whittington and Park Hall.

“It is near to a place that employs a lot of people such as the orthopaedic hospital, and it will include improved transport links and infrastructure.

“I am easy about it, Park Hall had thousands of troops there a number of years ago so it is used to dealing with it.

“These are just plans and ideas out there to make a statement, and there will be consultation on them.”

Improved access

Under the ‘garden settlement’, there would be improved access to community facilities for existing and new residents, by providing a location to establish local shops and community facilities.

There would also be improved access to Gobowen Railway Station, the orthopaedic hospital and Oswestry through a possible park and ride facility and circular bus service.

Plans could also provide a range of housing opportunities, including key worker housing for the hospital and the Derwen College.

Elsewhere, 90 homes have been built in Whitchurch in the last year and a further provision is required for a further 554 before 2036.

Land needs to be found for just 160 more homes in Ellesmere, with plans in place to build 602 houses over the coming years.

And in Wem, plans have been put in place for 261 homes, and further work needs to be done to identify where to build another 305.

• If approved the consultation will run for nine weeks ending at the start of 2019, before a second consultation takes place later next year. It will then need to be approved by the planning inspectorate.